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Luke Mossey: where did he spring from?

He's the Skywalker of the MCE British Superbike paddock, and now Luke Mossey is walking tall towards the Showdown for the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship. The Cambridge rider is only in his second term in the top flight, but aboard the Quattro Plant Tec-care Kawasaki, he is showing speed, skill and consistency.

Mossey is at home on the big bike, the six-footer reckons his riding style is just the job and that is showing with his form. Last year he upset the form-book with a couple of podiums, running third at Thruxton and then Assen, as he finished seventh in the final standings, to take the BSB Riders Cup. But now he is focussed on better things.

The determination is there, and though he is still only 23 years of age, he had already got almost two decades of motorbiking under his belt. “I got my first bike, a TW50 when I was four, two years later I was riding in mini-motos and was on a geared bike when I was ten.”

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Mossey has grown up in a biking family. His dad John raced in both British and European 500cc Championships, also making an appearance in the 1989 British 500cc Grand Prix.  And now, he has a business restoring classic bikes. “Dad has been a massive influence in getting me to where I am now – he is an ever present, he can’t stay away.”

It is amid that background that Mossey’s career has developed. Dad sorted a ride for him in the Spanish 125GP championship for two years and then they took the decision to have a season away from racing, concentrating on testing and preparing a 250GP bike in preparation for a planned full term in Grand Prix action. “We were looking for a full season, but money was tight and we just did a wild-card in the British and then made the decision to race in British action in 2009.”

That season Mossey was riding a Yamaha in the National Superstock 600 Championship, winning four races as he finished as the runner-up in the title stakes and there was the then career highlight of winning the European Superstock 600 round at Silverstone. “I never thought we could do that and to win the race was a massive highlight of my career.”

The decision was made to move up into British Supersport, riding in that series for five seasons, to begin with the family running their own team, with Triumph machines.  “It was an up and down time, difficult with funding issues, so the win in the European meant so much.

“The bike was good enough but we just didn’t have the budget compared to the teams that we were up against. We managed well enough but we just didn’t have the equipment of the other teams and if you don’t have the backing, it is quite hard, you are left on the back foot.

Mossey’s efforts did not go un-noticed and he joined the Smiths team for two seasons, but in each of them he was dogged by injury – a broken arm and then an ankle – but he powered in several podium finishes as he underlined his potential.

For 2013, the decision was taken to revert to a family-owned team, with Tec-care, friends of John and bike enthusiasts, joining them but again, the season started on a sore note. Mossey tumbled in the opening round, injuring a finger and was out for several rounds. “That was very disappointing but I came back with a winning ride.  Then broke my back in a crash at Oulton Park but six weeks later I returned with a win.”

And it was a similar story in 2014, when he fell, dislocating his shoulder. But again Mossey bounced back with a win at Knockhill and then repeating that in dominant style at Donington Park.  The pathway to Superbikes was opening to Mossey.

“Ray Stringer, a good friend of the family, was looking on and was a mentor to me, helping us out – Ray was working for Pete Extance and Quattro Plant Kawasaki and he arrange for us meet up and discuss the 2015 season.”

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The deal was sorted and Mossey was riding in BSB. “It took a bit of time to find my feet, and then we went to Thruxton and I got a podium finish, and then another third place at Assen and by then was regularly running in the top six to become the best of the rest by the end of that season, winning the BSB Riders Cup.

“That was massive achievement, I really couldn’t expect any more than that in my first year and for me the team did a great job.  Then for this season we got the new Kawasaki and ran fastest in each of the two Spanish tests – OK we are still finding out feet with the new bike and had had a pole start at Brands Hatch and a couple of podiums.  Now we are looking forward to the rest of the season and with a good second half can make the Showdown, that is what we are aiming for.”

Mossey’s form is something of a revelation, making the transformation from the 600s to the big-bikes: “I’m quite a big lad, taller than a lot of the other riders, but throughout my career people have commented that I have had a Superbike style, even when I was riding the smaller bikes. I am just more comfortable on the big bike and I can’t ask for any more from the fantastic team and bike that I have.”

And the Skywalker nick-name: “Nothing to do with my height, it is Mossey from StarWars. I was first called in in 2009, not sure who by, and it has stuck since with everyone latching on to it and the name has just got bigger as the years have gone by.”

Mossey is intent now on Mossey becoming the name everyone looks to in BSB. His proud dad John is ever supportive, as is mum Teresa, though she usually keeps up to speed from a distance. “She gets too nervous, she went through racing with dad and now her son is racing.”  It is a family affair with Mossey at the sharp end of the pack.

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